Tobacco
Tobacco is nothing but powdered form of the leaves of the tobacco plant such as Nicotiana rustica and Nicotiana tabacum that contain nicotine, which causes addiction of tobacco. Nicotine comes in the stimulant drug category and these stimulant drugs act on the central nervous system to accelerate the message traveling between the body and brain.
To manufacture a wide range of tobacco based products, the leaf of tobacco plant is cured, dried and aged and after that the other ingredients are added in it. Examples of tobacco based products include cigars, tobacco, wet and dry snuff, chewing tobacco and cigarettes including some herbal cigarettes.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals and most of these chemicals are poisonous. Out of these 43 of them can cause cancer. The three most dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke are:
- Tar: The chemical released when a cigarette burns.
- Nicotine: This is very dangerous chemical found in tobacco, on which smokers become dependent.
- Carbon monoxide (CO): It is an odorless, colorless and very toxic gas. It is taken up more readily by lungs than oxygen and smokers contain high levels of CO in the blood.
Effects of tobacco smoke
Long-term effects
Near about millions of people died because of the tobacco abuse every year. The principal diagnoses are heart disease, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Overdose effects
Very large doses of nicotine result into the unpleasant effects such as confusion, feeling of faintness and rapid decrease in breathing rate and blood pressure. In some cases, death may occur because of respiratory failure. Sixty milligrams of nicotine taken orally can be dangerous for an adult.
Immediate effects After smoking tobacco, the following effects may be experienced:
- initial stimulation
- enhanced concentration and alertness
- reduction in brain and nervous system activity
- mild euphoria
- increased blood pressure and heart rate
- feelings of relaxation
- lowered blood flow to the fingers and toes
- sickness, faintness, watery eyes and acid in the appetite
- decreased appetite, taste and smell.
Some people will experience withdrawal symptoms after they have suddenly stopped use of tobacco or reduced the amount they used daily. This is because their body has to readjust to function without the drug.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms include:
- cravings
- disturbed sleeping patterns and insomnia
- agitation, irritability, anxiety and depression
- increased appetite and weight gain
- headaches
- loss of concentration and restlessness
- coughing and sore throat
- stomach and bowel upsets.
- body aches and pains